In the lobby of the quilt show, don't forget to stop by the YO YO's of Paducah table. These ladies always have something special. Last year they showed how to make the bow tie block from charm squares with a few simple folds and hand stitches. It was worth a raffle ticket for the yo yo quilt to watch them demo how to make it.
Buy the pre cut batting squares! You can't miss the batting vendor. Piles of batting. The pre cut 20" batting squares are super cheap. Save your fabric money for E Burns tent sale and Hancock's back room. Eleanor has two tent shows twice a day and in between she is at the barn signing books and just visiting with everyone. Her downtown store has different fabric from the tent sale. Look for a big yellow sign outside a downtown building that says Fabric Sale. The quilt shop that vends it, has darn good buys on fabric. She is in a different spot every year as she gets whatever building is vacant at the time. You can walk from the show to the downtown area but you'll need to take the shuttle bus to Hancocks's and E Burns tent sale. Two days is plenty because Hancocks's stays open late. And don't forget to go to the Mall for lots of great vendors. I found the mall vendors had lower prices then the show vendors.

About 20 miles from Paducah there is another quilt show. It's the same days and it's worth going to if you have time. Lots of vendors other then the big quilt show vendors. I forgot the name of the town but it's very close by.

Their website says, "No Wheeled Carts

For the safety of all attendees, wheeled carts/bags/luggage are not allowed in the vendor/ exhibit areas; use the Package Check located in the Atrium of the Julian Carroll Convention Center and at the entrance of the Pavilion.

Wheelchairs with people in them and strollers with babies aboard are allowed. "

I knew this had been the case at all the previous shows I have been to but wanted to check since things could have changed.

They have a package check/claim and a mailing service right outside the vendor area and you can go in & out as many times as necessary if you would rather (& are parked reasonably close) put stuff in your car.

It sounds like they are back in the hotel again which is a good thing. The giant blow up tent last year was interesting but the noise of the fans was distracting.

Don't forget to check out the vendors downtown.

Spend 2 or 3 days if possible so you don't miss anything and don't wear yourself out trying to see it all in one day.

Do the vendors at the quilt show mark items down at the end of the show dates? Just wondering if it's smarter to wait till the last day to make purchases.

Places to stay are hard to come by this late. They book everything up early.

Is there a website about this show? I probably can't go, but I'd like to dream... :-D

http://www.americanquilter.com

If you look for places that aren't on the approved/recommended list, you might be able to find something. The first time I went (2005), we stayed at a Knight's Inn on the south side of town and just drove up to the show each day. Paducah isn't very big so it's not much of a drive. There was also a couple other motels in that area but I can't remember the names and they've probably all changed by now anyway.

I didn't notice any mark downs but you do get special show deals on the bigger stuff--sewing machines, long arms, Q-bot, PC Quilter, etc. I would imagine some of the vendors would rather sell than re-pack but I didn't notice any myself. Outside of the quilt show; Hancock's of Paducah has special deals and it's always fun to watch Eleanor Burns at her tent. Saying hi to all the famous (and infamous) quilters, authors & designers is fun, too.

It is the American Quilters Society and here is a link to their shows
http://www.americanquilter.com/shows_contests/

Thank you BK and frarose~ :-D

Look for the cow. There are a lot of vendors there, too. Rotary Building, Eleanor at the fairgrounds. Get there early and stake out your seat, take turns with your friends shopping so that one is always there to save your seat. We've been on the front row the last two times. Can't go this year. Boo Hoo! Go down past the murals and just sit and watch the river for a little r & r. The big "marshmallow" but it is oh, so hot in there. No wheeled carts, please, and if you are in a cart, watch out for others, don't run over them.